STRATEGIES Clark County Democrats take a stand MembersofWashington’sClark County Demo­ cratic Central Committee voted recently to support Hands Off Washington and civil rights legislation introduced by openly gay State Rep. Cal Ander­ son. Hands Off Washington is working to counter efforts of OCA-style groups in Washington State. The bill introduced by Anderson, and co-spon- sored by Val Ogden (D-Vancouver) would add sexual orientation to existing statutes prohibiting discrimination. “Our party,” said Clark County Chairman Harold Abbe, “stands for equality, and thus we include any and all who will join with us. All are welcome. The quality of life is better without hate. Put the absence of hate on your list of things we need.” The Hands Off Washington campaign is cur­ rently running a striking ad in The Oregonian. The words “kill fags” are scrawled across the top of the ad, followed by an explanation of the campaign. The Jackson County Human Rights Coalition PAC boasts a mailing list of 4,000 people. It formed three years ago, in response to a racist incident. The group can be reached through its voice mail number: 770-1761. The OCA is fighting seriously for Southern Oregon. It has deployed Scott Lively to reside in a small town near the border between Jackson and Josephine counties. Court rules to allow OCA vote in Klamath Falls W ashi ngton County Circuit Court J udge Gayle A. Nachtigal mled in April that the Oregon Citi­ zens Alliance’s current initiative attempt in Kla­ math Falls meets state requirements. Nachtigal did correct the proposed ballot title, and said in her ruling that the initiative may indeed violate the Oregon Constitution, but her court couldn’t rule on thaL Klamath resident Janet Boytano filed a lawsuit to keep the initiative off the ballot. The suit charged that the ballot title was insufficient, and the subject inappropriate for an initiative. Her lawyer, Phil Studenberg, says an appeal is planned. Mean­ while, the initiative could still appear on the ballot, if the OCA succeeds in gathering enough signa­ tures. If Boytano wins, he says, the initiative would not become law even if it passed. Studenberg is also asking Nachtigal to clarify parts of her ruling. “We didn't fee 1 she addressed the issues we raised,” he explained. Nachtigal did express concern as to whether the The Senate passed it on a vote of 18-12. The bill the OCA turned in twice the number of signatures initiative was constitutional. According to to get on the ballot Studenberg, an initiative must win an election now moves on to the House. There is speculation needed Organizers had previously turned in signatures before a constitutional challenge can be filed in about whether or not House Speaker Larry in Klamath county, Canby, Cornelius and Junction Campbell will let the bill out of committee for a court “The city’s administration or application of this floor vote. Campbell killed a similar bill last City. petition, should it pass, may prove to be unconsti­ legistative session by not allowing it out of com­ tutional, as may the amendment itself. The consti­ mittee. Labor Commissioner Mary Wendy Roberts Josephine County to vote tutionality of the amendment is not a matter ripe for judicial review at this time,” Nachtigal said in her sponsored the bill, which would offer civil rights on OCA initiative in June protection in areas such as housing, employment ruling. The Oregon Citizens Alliance’s anti-gay initia­ and civil rights. tive will be on the June 29 ballot in Josephine County, but not on the city ballot in Grants Pass. Cities fare better OCA turns in signatures According to Grants Pass City Attorney Ulys -Stapleton, neither the city nor the county has taken than Linn County The Oregon Citizens Alliance has turned in While voters in Albany and Lebanon won’t be signatures in Crook, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine a position on the issue. No legal challenges have faced with a city vote on the Oregon Citizens and Linn counties, as well as in Hermiston, Leba­ been filed either, he said. The Josephine County Human Rights Alliance Alliance’s anti-gay ballot measure, they will vote non, Medford, Prineville and Pendleton, for ‘sons has launched an intensive get-out-the-vote cam­ on a county version of the measure. In Lebanon, of 9’ local initiatives. paign, according to activist Sky Blue. That group the ballot has been derailed by a lawsuit filed by is working with both the Rural Organizing Project attorney Kathryn McNannay. The lawsuit asks the and Support Our Communities PAC. SOC PAC Linn County Circuit Court to order Lebanon’s organizer Renee Delappe has moved *to Grants elections officer not to put the initiative on the Pass to work with local activists in Josephine, ballot because it is “an unconstitutional attempt to Jackson, Klamath and Douglas Counties. pre-empt existing state law,” and “an inappropriate Grants Pass OCA supporters have been fo­ use of the initiative process.” The city council has cusing their energies on picketing and telephoning asked Lebanon City Attorney Tom McHill to de­ the local paper, The Daily Courier, for running the fend the initiative. The soonest the OCA initiative comic strip “For Better or Worse.” The strip has could appear on that ballot would be Sept 21. dealt with gay youth recently. In Albany, the city was still counting signatures for the September ballot at press time. According to Finance Director Gary Holliday, the city council Clerical cunfusiun is opposed to the initiative because the subject is not appropriate for a city charter. delays-OCA initiative The initiative will appear on the Linn County ballot June 29. Linn County Communities for in Jacksnn County Unity is working with Support Our Communities When Oregon Citizens Alliance members in PAC. Julie Davis of Rep. Gail Shibley’s office has Jackson County turned in petitions for the anti-gay also met with the group. Linn County Communi­ ties for Unity has elected a steering committee and initiative, they had enough signatures, and met the is working to become a PAC, according to Heather deadline for a June election. There was just one Weldon, events coordinator. pesky detail that hadn’t been taken into account Weldon says the group is planning a get-out- The county commission, not the elections division the-vote campaign, focusing on door-to-door can­ or the OCA, sets dates for elections. The commis­ vassing and phone banking. An important strategy sion didn’t call an election for June, and might not. for Linn County will be identifying which voters According to County Clerk Kathy Beckett the cast ‘no’ votes on Ballot Measure 9, and encourag­ county commission might wait until the May 1994 ing them to get to the polls and do it again. elections to put the OCA initiative on the ballot. “We’re feeling really positive,” Weldon com­ In Prineville, OCA organizers turned in only The City of Medford faces similar bureaucratic mented. 189 signatures, some of which were not valid. The snafus. The OCA didn’t turn in enough signatures Linn County Communities for Unity has a core number needed was 464. According to city offi­ for the city’s June ballot. But because of confusion group of about a dozen. cials, the OCA must start all over again if it wants between the city and the OCA, those signatures to try for the September ballot, and can’t use any will count towards the total needed to put the signatures already turned in. The OCA may be initiative on the September ballot. Normally, when SB 34 over first hurdle short of signatures in Pendleton as well; in Crook a petitioner turns in insufficient signatures, the The Senate Judicial Committee and the State county, the OCA turned in just 66 more signatures next attempt must start from scratch. The soonest Senate have approved SB 34, which would extend than needed. that Jackson County and Medford could face an civil rights protection on the basis of sexual orien­ The news from southern Oregon was not so OCA initiative is on a mail-in ballot September 21. tation. good. In Douglas, Jackson and Josephine counties. Donna Taylor, president of the Jackson County Human Rights Coalition, isn’t at all disturbed by the delays. They give her group more time to organize its campaign. The group has been work­ OCA to announce new hate wave ing with Support Our Communities PAC to de­ velop strategy. The plans, according to Taylor, are So, if you’re looking for something to do on They are scared. They are also unable to live up to to focus on a neighbor-to-neighbor approach, with Thursday, May 6, at 10 am, how about showing the responsibilities outlined in the United States volunteers going door-to-door, and hosting block up for the Oregon Citizens Alliance’s press con­ Constitution and the Oregon constitution. It’s like parties. Another goal is have all brochures avail­ ference. It will be held at its “state office,” which a legislative way to validate their inadequacies as able in Spanish and English. Radio and television is located at 8651 SW Salish Lane, WilsonviDe. U.S. citizens. Each citizen of the United States is spots featuring local community leaders are also The OCA will be announcing its new “Stop charged with upholding the Constitution and the planned. Taylor is optimistic about the campaign. Special Rights” statewide initiative. The title Bill of Rights. It is a responsibility that comes “I really think we have a lot of yes-on-9 voters may lead one to think that the OCA is going to with citizenship. who are persuadable,” she said, noting that the produce a significant initiative concerning abol­ The OCA is not content with the myriad of OCA’s cries of ‘special rights’ had misled many ishing special privileges for the dominant class, losses that it has accumulated, both at the polls people. But there is no shortage of volunteers to or legislation which addresses institutionalized and in the courts. They seem to be driven by their clarify the issues. “We have people complaining iniquities in our state. Wrong! It’s the same old fears and their failures. Maybe they will get pathetic whining they do: “Queers want civil adequate therapy and leave our civil rights alone. we don’t give them enough to do,”Taylor laughed. rights and it scares us." Well, good grief! We’re . Don’t forget, that’sThursday, May 6, at 10am “That tells you a lot about our campaign.” expected to keep suffering because they are scared in Wilsonville. The OCA is also planmng to file The coalition could have sued the city to pre­ of us? The entire state of Oregon is supposed to its initiative in Salem at about noon that day, so if vent the OCA from using signatures turned in for foot the bill because they are scared? Is that you miss them in Wilsonville, you can catch their a June ballot toward the requirement for a Septem­ healthy? Wouldn’t that make everyone co-de­ act in Salem. ber ballot. The coalition decided to focus instead pendent to the members of the OCA? on the initiative’s constitutionality. These people are so afraid and lacking in There are a lot of things that I'm afraid of, and moral fiber, that once they see this announcement “We’re confident we could win if we did [file I would love to have a political PAC that would in Just Out they’ll probably reschedule the press suit]," Taylor explained. “But we don’t want to devote hours to appeasing my fears. If this sounds conference, so be sure to call the OCA first at 682 - follow the example of our opponents in wasting outrageous to you, it is, and this is what Lon and 0653. taxpayers’ money. We really want to save the taxpayers’ money.” his band of unhappy people are attempting to do. Ariel Waterwoman compiled by Irene K. Hislop